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Ballotable kidney
System: Kidney & Urinary Signs · All kidney & urinary signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
With one hand in the loin and the other on the abdomen, an enlarged kidney can be felt and gently bounced (balloted) between the two hands as the patient breathes in.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with kidney enlargement, as in polycystic kidney disease, tumours or hydronephrosis.
Related signs — Kidney & Urinary Signs
Browse the B section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.